Trade and economic relations

Ukraine's membership of the WTO in 2008 and the completion of the negotiations for the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA is an integral part of the Association Agreement) are expected to deepen already promising economic partnership. 

The EU is one of Ukraine's biggest commercial partners and accounts for about one third of its external trade. The EU believes that closer economic integration (in the overall context of a political association) can be a key factor in economic growth for Ukraine. The EU was a strong proponent for Ukrainian WTO membership, effective since 16 May 2008. Building on that membership the EU and Ukraine immediately launched negotiations for an agreement on a deep and comprehensive free trade area (DCFTA). These negotiations were completed on 19 October 2011 in Brussels. As part of the future Association Agreement, the DCFTA is designed to deepen Ukraine's access to the European market and to encourage further European investment in Ukraine.